Genital Lesion

[stressedoutsam]

Okay, about 2 weeks ago I had sex with my partner. We are monogamous. I have never had problems, other than ordinary itching or the occasional ingrown hair from shaving in my vaginal region before. After sex, I went to urinate and it hurt so bad I wanted to cry.

The next day I was still sore, but was very itchy as well. I noticed slight white discharge and decided to treat myself for a yeast infection. I used the Monistat 1 Ovule, and it was very painful to insert. I used the external cream for itching and it seemed to help the itch.  I looked down to check everything, but also noticed that I had some crust underneath my fingernails from scratching during my sleep. The itch was outside. The pain was inside. If I clenched it made it worse. I felt like I was on fire, and couldn't even sit down without pain.

The next day I woke up and was still in much pain. I went to urinate, with the same intense burning. Again, I decided to check things. I found 2 bumps that appeared to be an ingrown hair on each side of my vulva. I pulled a hair out of each of the open sores. They were open sores that had a white layer on top. I squeezed after I pulled the hairs out, and a bit of white pus came out.

The pain continued. But now I had this bubbly, watery, gray colored discharge with a very strong smell, as well.

On Sunday, I decided I needed to see a doctor and made plans to go to my local health department on Monday. I went in on Monday and spoke with a nurse. She told me to come back on Thursday because they had no doctors in until then. She told me to get some AZO and drink cranberry juice to help with the painful urination until then.

I just went to the doctor yesterday and got everything checked out. I had a pap in September and got put back on the Depo-Provera shot. I was negative for the STDs, positive for HPV. By now, after drinking the cranberry juice, the intense burning had subsided. I don't know if whatever it was had run its course, or if the cranberry juice had helped a possible UTI. The bubbly discharge was nearly gone.

She checked out the bumps, which are now almost healed, and have not scabbed, and said that they looked like Herpes to her and that my insides were beet red. That was the most painful exam I have ever had. She did a wet prep. She prescribed me Metronidazole (Flagyl) for the discharge and Acyclovir just in case it's Herpes. She also took a urine sample, and said there was bacteria in my urine, but she wasn't sure if the bacteria was in the urine or was coming from the vagina. I won't know the results for a week.

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What is your opinion on this situation? I'm very confused as to why she prescribed me those two medicines, when she told me I was negative for Trichomoniasis with my last pap.

I normally shave down there, and since I have had this pain, I decided not to irritate any of the region so I just haven't been shaving. I thought that the two bumps were possibly from scratching the area and I had infected it.

I'm very scared and very confused and so is my partner.

[gracefromHHP]

actually 70% of the time that herpes is transmitted, it was transmitted when the infected partner didn't have any symptoms.

At this point you and your partner will need to follow up with type specific herpes igg blood tests to see who has what.

flagyl is for bv  also ( http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_vag_trich_bv.cfm ). discharge and odor are frequently associated with it so it sounds like you are being treated for bv.

grace

[stressedoutsam]

She said I was negative for Trich on the last pap. She did the wet prep, told me nothing and prescribed me Flagyl. She just didn't give me much information. All she said was, "It looks like herpes". She was discussing with the nurse about treating me for a UTI because of the bacteria in the urine, but decided against it. She didn't swab my sores. She poked around inside and sent a urine sample off.

She's got me freaking out, and my partner as well. We are clueless and confused how this even came about. I was always told you couldn't spread that junk unless a sore is present. The nurse said that 99% of the time you must have an outbreak to get it. The doctor said you can pass it on without ever having symptoms. Is it possible I infected my hair follicles with my scratching?

I've had strong smelling, normal looking discharge for quite some time (the discharge since the ulcers has been much different), but no itching or anything, so I just took it as my body was getting older and my hormones were changing.

I'm just so irritated and frustrated that she was going to write it off as herpes without any REAL diagnosis of any kind. It made me feel as if she says all genital lesions she sees are automatically herpes.

Why doesn't anyone standardly test for this junk? Why doesn't anyone have their facts straight on it?

[gracefromHHP]

flagyl is actually what we use for bv as well. did you have a + trich result or were you just told it might be trich?

when was the last time you had sex prior to all of this? if you have a regular partner, they'll need tested for herpes to know their own status too.

Your herpes testing was done pretty late into all of this. You'll need to follow up with a type specific herpes igg blood test at some point too if your culture comes back negative for herpes.  

I actually recommend following up in 2 weeks again with a provider for a repeat exam and additional testing too to make sure that everything was taken care of. Not too unusual to overcorrect your ph with flagyl and end up with yeast either so a proper follow up is a good idea.

grace

[stressedoutsam]

How could I all of a sudden get Trich? Being with the same person and all?

[mooksmom]

Looks like she treated you appropriately. Just because you were negative for Trich back in Sept doesn't mean you continue to be negative. You didnt say if she tested you for BV. I'd follow up with her again, tho', as she knows your history.